“Our mission is to offer future physicians a comprehensive introduction to global health issues. Through our programming and opportunities, we develop culturally sensitive students of medicine, intent on influencing the trans-national inequalities that shape the health of our planet.”

The principle concept behind the Federation is to exchange people and ideas across different countries. The work is organized into six committees, similar to our own AMSA Action Committee structure – two for exchanges, four for projects. What this means for us as an NMO, is that AMSA collaborates with other countries on international efforts, and both sends and receives students for exchanges. It also means that we send delegations to the biannual General Assemblies, where delegates from around the world gather to form the IFMSA’s highest decision-making body.

EXCHANGES

Annually, around 10,000 medical students around the world participate in IFMSA’s exchanges – bilateral, equitable medical student exchanges between different countries. The Standing Committee on Professional Exchange (SCOPE) organizes one-month clinical experiences, which all AMSA medical members are eligible to participate in. Exchanges organized by the Standing Committee on Research Exchange (SCORE) are available to both medical and premedical members, and partners students with researchers in various biomedical fields for up to six months. Are you interested in hosting students at your institution, or participating in an exchange? Find out more:

PROJECTS

IFMSA’s programming is organized into four standing committees, each with their own leadership structure. This structure does not align perfectly with AMSA’s Action Committee structure, but all of the work we undertake falls under one of these four committees.

SCOME: Standing Committee on Medical Education

SCOPH: Standing Committee on Public Health

SCORA: Standing Committee on Reproductive Health including AIDS

SCORP: Standing Committee on Human Rights and Peace

Projects from any NMO can become officially endorsed by IFMSA, representing an alignment with IFMSA’s vision; these projects are given a delegate allowance to represent their work at General Assemblies.

Are you involved in an effort in the United States that you would benefit from IFMSA’s endorsement? Would you like to establish connections with medical students working on similar issues in other countries? Contact the Secretary General at sg@amsa.org.